Fallon students research chronic inflammation

Elizabeth Stephens and Clifton Bullock of Western Nevada College display the INBRE poster from research work conducted by them and other students on the Fallon campus this summer.Western Nevada College

This summer, the Western Nevada College campus in Fallon hosted a three-week research opportunity for students.

Funded by Nevada IDeA Network of Biomedical Research Excellence (INBRE), Fallon and Carson campuses just completed their third year of summer workshops to help students gain valuable and competitive skills that are usually only available in universities.

Dr. Gary Evett and Rachelle Bassen, biology professors at WNC, led Fallon’s summer project that focused on discovering novel genetic variations in the cyclooxygenase (COX-1) gene that might be involved in chronic inflammation in the body (such as rheumatoid arthritis). This type of research is important to help with making new drugs to tackle inflammation.

Students Ben Andersen, Clifton Bullock, Iliana Hockenberry-Grimes and Elizabeth Stephens participated in the research work.

The research project was particularly meaningful and personal for Hockenberry-Grimes.

“Many of my family members suffer from this (disease),” she said. “Having seen with my own eyes the damage that chronic inflammation and disease can inflict upon the world, I can say with certainty that these research projects are of paramount importance. Dr. Evett always says that ‘to be a good scientist, one does not have to solve a problem in its entirety, but rather do good science that allows a piece of the puzzle to be solved.’

“These INBRE research projects are allowing undergraduate students to help solve a piece of the puzzle, which is an invaluable experience.”

Andersen said, “Helping Dr. Evett and Ms. Bassen with research was a great honor. In our research we either reproduced or discovered new variants that may lead to new medications and a better understanding of our bodies’ nature. I take pride in the idea that I am part of this deeper curiosity and look forward to exploring it more.”

Stephens and Bullock also felt like the team’s research work will be beneficial to them and others in the future.

“INBRE research has given me the opportunity to gain valuable laboratory skills and experience as well as general scientific knowledge,” Stephens said. “I will be able to carry this with me through my undergraduate studies as well as my postgraduate education.”

Bullock said, “I’m thankful for being able to be part of something that may be influential in the scientific community in the future.”

In addition to volunteering their time to work on this project every day, the students learned valued skills that can be promoted on résumés, and applications for internships, jobs and more.

They presented a poster on their research at the 2019 Undergraduate Research Symposium at Truckee Meadows Community College on June 28 and will do so at the 2019 Statewide Nevada INBRE Conference in Las Vegas in August and the 2019 NIH IDeA Western Regional Conference in Las Vegas in October.

NSHE foster care program provides free tuition to eligible students

The Nevada System of Higher Education Board of Regents passed the Nevada Foster Care Fee Waiver initiative last fall that will increase the chances of educational access and success for Nevada’s foster children.

The program focuses on people who have aged out of the foster care system by addressing the perpetual educational inequities of foster children by adopting a fee waiver program. It allows individuals to register for credit without a registration fee or certain laboratory fees, similar to the current waiver for members of the Nevada National Guard.

“These students face incredible challenges, through no fault of their own, having lost families, homes and hope for a brighter future,” said NSHE Chancellor Thom Reilly. “This initiative can give access to higher education, opportunity and a better future to an underserved group of people in our state.”

Nevada is the 29th state in the nation to administer such a waiver program, which was implemented in January.

To be eligible, students must have been in foster care in Nevada at the age of 14 or older, graduated from high school or passed a high school equivalency exam (GED, HISET, etc), completed a FASFA (financial aid application) and be younger than 26.

For information, call Admissions and Records at 775-445-3277.

Get ready for fall semester at Wildcat Night on Aug. 8

The Fallon campus will host a Wildcat Night from 5 to 7 p.m. Aug. 8, enabling individuals to receive help applying to the college, as well as information about financial aid, counseling and other questions about attending WNC.

Don’t let summer smother your educational dreams

Although there still is time for more fun in the sun this summer, fall semester is creeping closer, so students new to WNC need to take the necessary steps in order to start classes on Aug. 26.

Student Services is available to help individuals with the enrollment process from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.